by Corey Garrett | Nov 2, 2017 | Event report, Picture Galleries, Praise report
Yesterday I spent a few hours out in a village we know very well selling the Scripture portions we have labored over for the past several years. I headed out after having lunch in Kaffrine and picked up a few people on the way to the village who were waiting on rides–one of the people waiting was a friend from our village who was going to sell in the louma herself, so I was able to ask her a bit about how selling works.
Louma time
When we arrived in the village, with the help of some other friends selling in the market, I set up my table in a place in the shade of a tree.
Just after setting up
I had for sale our four books plus our 20 booklets.
Four complete books (l-r Luke-Acts, Psalms, Exodus, Genesis) plus the 18 story books and the 2 primers
Of course immediately I had 20 kids looking at the table–at first they thought I was selling the rulers I had brought to weigh down the booklets so the wind didn’t carry them away!
I had a good time seeing some old friends and catching up, and also meeting some new folks who go around day by day and sell at different markets. In fact some of those are good connections, because if I go to a village where I am not known but am known to other market sellers, that helps me find my way a bit.
A friend selling rice, onions, and other food near my table
Selling batteries in the louma
Many people came over wanting to know what I was selling, so I got to explain to a number of folks what the books are, what is in them, how much they are, etc. There were really only a couple of moments that I didn’t have a crowd of adults around the table. During those couple of times I walked around and talked to other folks in the market.
A page from the primer. Clockwise from top left, the Roman script letter, corresponding Arabic script letter, the Arabic script word and the Roman script word with a picture of the word in the center.
People were very interested in the primers–I sold four of those quickly. They are books that show each Roman script letter, its corresponding Arabic script letter, an example word in both scripts, and an image of the word. As I told people in the market, it won’t teach you either script, but it will help you remember what you’ve learned if you are a bit rusty. Other than that I only sold one booklet, the Creation story. Although I would have loved to sell more, this is not unexpected for the first time out. In coming weeks as I return, I hope to sell more. The highlights were two times that we got into looking into the stories. One time there was a crowd of 10-13 year old boys around the table and I asked who was the best at reading Arabic script. None of the boys wanted to say they could read it well, but one boy volunteered another. He read the first page of the story of the Fall from Genesis 3, and I read the rest of it.
Then shortly after that I was standing in front of the table with a group of about six men and explaining to some new folks what the booklets and the books were. The title of the one I was holding was “God Evicts Adam and Eve from Eden,” and I was showing how the title was the same on both sides, just in different scripts. One of the men asked, “So why did God kick Adam and Eve out of Eden?” I started reading the story out loud dramatically from the Arabic script side. The guys all listened intently, and when I finished reading I started with the questions from Discipleship Bible Study; What did we learn about God? What did we learn about human beings? and If this is from God, how should we change our lives? We had a good long conversation about the story! This is what we’re after: scripture engagement. I would have loved to sell more books, but really getting into the Scripture stories and what they mean is our goal.
Looking at a book with a friend (this shot was set up by a village friend!)
At this point I plan on going back to the louma in this village a few more times, and then going to loumas in some other villages and seeing how things go. Keep praying for the books to get into peoples’ hands and hearts!
Watermelons for sale
Radio repair
Ready-to-wear clothes, underwear, backpacks, lotion, perfume…what else can you see here?
by Corey Garrett | Oct 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
What a great summer (plus) it’s been! We’ve been so encouraged over these months and we are excited to head back to Senegal! We’re heading out tonight to catch a 5:45 a.m. flight. Pray us over all day Wednesday, then we’ll arrive in Senegal 1:30 a.m. EST on Thursday morning.
by Corey Garrett | May 19, 2016 | Praise report, Prayer request
We are a week away from leaving Kaffrine en route to a plane to the USA for our three-month home assignment! Lots of excitement about seeing family and friends for the first time in three years, as well as many last-minute things to take care of here in Kaffrine for our three-month absence.
Check out our schedule and let us know if you want to get together while we are in your area. We’d love to get to share with you face-to-face about this last term and what God is doing here.
- May 29: Arrive in Charlotte, NC
- June 8-15: In Asheville, NC
- June 15: Fly to Connecticut
- June 19: @ the Barn (Covenant Presbyterian)
- June 26: @ Trinity Episcopal Church Tariffville
- July 10: @ Bakerville Methodist Church
- July 11-25: Midwest road trip (PA, OH, IN, IL, IA)
- July 31: @ Ft. Square Pres. Church, Quincy, MA
- Aug. 7: @ Valley Brook Community Church
- Aug 9-15: @ Browncroft Church, Rochester, NY
- Aug. 17-26: In Maine
- August 21: @ Windham Baptist Church, Windham, ME
- Aug. 28: Goodbye Sunday at the Barn
- Sept. 2: Fly back to Senegal
We saw some camels on the way to the Workshop!
In other news, the Wolofal Workshop went well, and although we had some last-minute cancellations, we had seven great participants who gave all their energy and left reading, writing, and typing in Arabic script.
Wheaton finished her school year yesterday and so will be free during the summer in the US! I doubt the other two will be so fortunate….
We’re looking forward to seeing all you who are Stateside soon!
by Corey Garrett | Apr 22, 2016 | Prayer request
a shot of our last workshop
Next week, 25-29 April, we’ll be hosting another Wolofal workshop. I’ll be teaching a group of interested Senegalese Christians and missionaries how to read and write Wolof and other Senegalese languages in Arabic script.
Pray for good stamina for all of us during this intense week-long workshop and for the families and ministries of these fellow workers as they take time out to equip themselves further for ministry.
by Corey Garrett | Mar 24, 2016 | Praise report
The new Android Wolof Bible app
Last week was the Wolof Consultation, a yearly event where those working among the Wolof get together to talk over how things are going, to exchange ideas, and to encourage each other. I was able to present several things, including the newly published Wolofal (Wolof language written in Arabic script) Genesis and Psalms.
But I was equally excited to be able to share the brand-new Wolof Bible apps – one for use on Android devices, the other for use online with any web browser. SIL has released an app builder tool which makes it very easy to share scripture digitally. The Android app that I made with their tool was quite easy to put together and has the potential to reach a wide audience. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can check it out on the Google Play Store right now by clicking here or by clicking on the screenshot at the right.
The new Wolof Bible Web app
We also released an online version of the Wolof Bible app that is readable in a web browser, again made possible through SIL’s app builder tool. You can check it out by clicking here or on the image to the left.
These apps are free online, so they make God’s word accessible all over the globe in an easy-to-carry and convenient way. It’s also an advantage for those living in environments that are hostile to the Christian faith who might be wary of owning a paper Bible.
And – there’s even more good news! – the Wolof Bible translation team gave me permission to include many books in the apps which have been approved for publication but never before published in any form. Appearing for the first time in these apps are the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, & Jonah! These books join the previously available complete books of Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament.
How many times have we wanted to share a scripture or Bible story in Wolof only to find that part of the Bible has not yet been translated? How many times have we seen, or done (!), spur-of-the moment Bible translations during a sermon being translated from French to Wolof? What a blessing to have so many more books at our fingertips! Praise the Lord for this technology and pray that these Wolof Bible apps will have a wide readership and bring hope to new readers of the Book.
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